"Wow, this place always seems packed." Ruby mumbled, remembering when she was here just a couple of days ago bringing Freddy back. Then again...that could just be coincidence...
"Yeah, it basically is but is Friday."
That explained it.
"So are you going in to actually work or just a quick visit?: Crystal looked at her.
"I'm here to do the rest of my shift, which is an hour left. Why?"
"Well, I'd prefer not to leave you on your own, so I'll stick around until you're done."
"Yeah, okay." She blinked. "Last time Cindy was in here she was just in the arcade room. They've got a new animatronic in there that hands out prizes to the kids if you wanted to check it out." Ruby blinked. Another animatronic. Already Freddy's crew was outnumbered..well she'd have to have a good look at it.
"Tell you what, order us some lunch and I'll have a quick look in the arcade, see if I can watch it interact with people." Crystal nodded.
"Got it. See ya in about ten or so minutes."
"Alright." Ruby glanced over as some kids ran into the arcade, following them and looking around.
The walls were a dark purple and the floor had matching carpets with some lights installed, highlighting the arcade machines. She looked around, not seeing any animatronics yet. Maybe it only came out when someone won a prize?
In that case, she'd better play a game.
Ruby noticed an arcade claw machine.
Her eyes gleamed brightly.
'Oh hell yeah!' She walked over, fishing out a gold coin as she approached the claw machine. Placing a coin in, hearing the iconic sound of it falling, she maneuvered the claw with precise skill, letting it fall towards the most grab-able prize there.
A Freddy Fazbear plushie however these ones resembled the old animatronics more then the new ones.
So with the single plushie won, the machine deposited a long line of tickets, which she collected, along with her prize and walked over towards a counter. Ruby looked around, still not able to see a staff member or animatronic.
The children that were inside raced out at their parents call that their pizza was ready so she was inside the arcade alone.
Ruby looked around again, putting her guard up.
"Hello?"
Ruby turned around. She could faintly hear the animatronics in the next room. They were nowhere near as loud as the originals but then again, the parents probably complained.
She placed the tickets on the counter and sighed, looking around.
"Why hello there!"
Ruby's head spun around as a thin spindly marionette lifted itself from the wall, previously posing as a prize near the wall and creepily flopped forward, tilting it's white mask to it's right, a wide grin on it's face.
"Um, hi. I didn't know anyone was here." She said, a bead a sweat forming above her brow. Man that startled her.
"Humblest apologies ma'am, I merely linger here until I am needed." The marionette spoke, it's voice unusually soft. How did that not creep the kids out.
"So...are you part of the band? I've never seen you before...um.." Ruby had no idea what to call this thing and it could sense it.
"Ah, alas I must show my manners. I am simply known as 'The Marionette'. I give out prizes to the little children, I enjoy their smiling faces. Such emotion they hold, it baffles me sometimes."
She blinked.
"Yes...kids do love to smile..." The marionette tilted it's head the other way, the faint whirring of motors and gears barely audible.
So he is an animatronic.
"What do you desire miss? You have 35 tickets in total." He said and Ruby blinked, quickly pointing to a rack of caps, each of different colours with either the animatronic's ears on top or Chia's beak replacing the cap. She chose a blue cap with black Foxy ears.
"Thank you." The marionette placed the cap on her head.
"I must say, that suits your complexion so well miss. I also believe this is your first visit to the wonder that is Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria, yes?"
"What makes you say that?" She asked with a polite smile, slightly adjusting the cap.
"Because I've seen every face that comes and goes since this building was opened, I have a clear view of the door and this is the first time I've seen you here. May I ask what your name is?" She blinked, somewhat stunned. The Marionette suddenly chuckled, sending shivers shooting up and down her spine.
"Ah, I have to apologise, I tend to get too...'in-depth'...when I talk to visitors. I know I am not as...charismatic as the others, dancing on stage and to be perfectly honest Miss, I wouldn't have a clue as to what to do up there, it's just...not in my programming...However I do enjoy hearing the laughter ring through this sanctuary of mine."
The Marionette tilted his head the other way again, his grin widening slightly.
"Your sanctuary?" He didn't even nod, just giving off a faint chuckle.
"Yes, it's truly a sanctuary with the precise amount of laughter through the day and the painful silence at night, though my beautiful lullaby plays such a sweet tune, it allows the silence to drown away in it's melodic symphony. Do you sleep to music, Miss?"
"Well, not in a very long time actually." Ruby admitted, still unnerved by the Marionette's one on one talk with her.
"Though I must say, you in-treague me, Miss, Truly. Not many adults play the games in here, yet...you still hold innocent, hopeful eyes...same as the children...Oh dear, I must be holding you up, again I must apologise,"
"Haha! Haha! Haha!"
Ruby spun around, another animatronic having suddenly appeared behind her, holding a single striped ballon and a sign that said 'Balloons!'
It looked like a little boy with the classic propellor hat, a striped shirt and overalls. He was staring straight at her.
"-and Ma'am,"
She turned around to look at the Marionette again.
"-do have a pleasant day..." He seemed to float backwards and reattach himself to the wall, becoming almost lifeless once again, despite watching the woman quickly walk out of the arcade, somewhat paler. She didn't dare to look back.
"...Ruby."